AUDIENCES are set to be transported over the rainbow when the touching story of a tragic singer is brought to the county.

Over the Rainbow, the story of Eva Cassidy, has enjoyed sell-out shows and standing ovations all over the UK and its star, actress Nicole Farraday, is thrilled to be bringing it to Evesham.

The former ITV's Bad Girls star has successfully turned from jailbird to songbird as she pays tribute to the late musician who has had incredible posthumous success since she died from cancer in 1996 at the age of just 33.

Nicole said: "I am really enjoying playing Eva and helping to tell her story. The show does have a lot of songs in it but the fact she had such posthumous success makes it a bit more interesting than just a straight tribute concert.

"The play seems to touch so many people as it is so sad and cancer touches so many people's lives.

"But it is also a tribute to Eva and her amazing talents and is very uplifting, although obviously her early death is the end of her story."

Over the Rainbow features some of the American's most breathtaking songs including Fields of Gold, Songbird and, of course, the play's namesake, Over the Rainbow.

And as Nicole is best known for her role as Bad Girl murderess, Snowball Merriman, in the drama series about a women's prison, and playing Dr Heather Lincoln in BBC One's Casualty, she said it was nice to sing as part of a performance.

"Singing is my first love and it's great to go back to my routes and sing and play the guitar.

"It is also good to play an entirely different role. A nice, kind, spiritual person for a change, rather than a drug smuggling murderess in Bad Girls and a promiscuous doctor in Casualty!"

Over the Rainbow plays at Evesham Arts Centre on Sunday, March 5 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15, £14 for Arts Centre members and are available on 01386 45567.